touchstone

as in criterion
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared his book has long been a touchstone for travel writing that aspires to be literature

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun touchstone contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of touchstone are criterion, gauge, standard, and yardstick. While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

When could criterion be used to replace touchstone?

The words criterion and touchstone can be used in similar contexts, but criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not.

questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

Where would gauge be a reasonable alternative to touchstone?

Although the words gauge and touchstone have much in common, gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect.

polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

When can standard be used instead of touchstone?

While the synonyms standard and touchstone are close in meaning, standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

How do yardstick and criterion relate to one another, in the sense of touchstone?

Yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of touchstone Kelleher and Watson aim to bridge the two Austin identities to ensure Waterloo Records remains a touchstone as the city evolves. Mars Salazar, Austin American-Statesman, 2 Jan. 2025 With multidimensional characters, juicy storylines, and Black culture front and center, The Gates will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2024 Morrow shared his appreciation for the collaboration with Diageo, highlighting the brand’s dedication to supporting future leaders and celebrating rich traditions and cultural touchstones like the Bayou Classic. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 11 Dec. 2024 Time will tell, and no question, this will remain an important touchstone in her evolving career. Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for touchstone 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchstone
Noun
  • The executive order signed by the president on Thursday called for the establishment of a working group on digital assets, whose tasks include proposing criteria for a crypto reserve.
    Anna Gleason, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Discussions have included limiting the total amount students can borrow and tightening eligibility criteria for non-citizens.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • As such, the WHO could respond to Trump and ask what standards would satisfy the president to bring the U.S. back into the fold.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025
  • In the preview, the pair sit on lawn chairs in what looks like the driveway of a suburban home, and discuss the fact that standards prohibit the depiction of alcohol consumption in a TV commercial, which prompts them to start counting down the seconds until the ad will be over.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • These wealth divides help explain why, between 2019 and 2021, according to the school finance indicators database, the Palo Alto Unified School District in California spent about $7,000 more per student than the minimum required to achieve national benchmark test scores.
    Tom Kemeny, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Its premiere episode scored a 0.57 rating in the 25-54 demo and a 0.74 across women in the same bracket, more than doubling the benchmark over the previous six weeks, per Nielsen live+three day data.
    Peter White, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Touchstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchstone. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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